Located in the middle of the Five Great Nations, this place is covered in ice and snow year-round. It is not governed by any ninja village, and the samurai here have always practiced strict neutrality, never getting involved in shinobi conflicts.
It was the perfect location for Akatsuki's hideout.
Their secret base was built underground, extending deep into the earth.
At this moment, Kaede Kanshi followed Madara into a dimly lit underground passage, accompanied by White Zetsu.
A large number of White Zetsu emerged from the wall like ghosts. Their faces were all eerily identical, though a few had minor distinguishing features. They stared silently at Kaede Kanshi, like predators observing a new life form.
Madara didn't care how many clones Kaede Kanshi might destroy. White Zetsu could endlessly produce more — cheap, expendable, and regenerating soldiers.
"Why do you have so many of these things?"
Kaede Kanshi's tone was calm, but his eyes narrowed with wariness.
Madara responded with a faint smirk, "I created them using the power of the Gedo Statue. They're born from the flesh of Hashirama Senju."
That sentence made Kaede Kanshi stop in his tracks.
Hashirama's flesh?
In that case… were these clones carrying Hashirama cells?
Noticing Kaede Kanshi's sudden halt, Madara raised an eyebrow. "You seem interested."
Kaede Kanshi replied, "I was just surprised that someone actually managed to exploit Hashirama's cells on such a scale. His regeneration ability, combined with mass production... You could create an undead army."
White Zetsu interjected proudly, "That's right! And all of us are connected to each other. We can share information instantly. Our strength may not be as high as yours, but we're very efficient. Oh, and we can help deliver spore clones to enemies too."
Kaede Kanshi didn't respond to the babbling.
He was focused on something else.
If these Zetsu were made from Hashirama's cells, could they serve as raw material for his own virus experiments?
At the end of the corridor, they entered a large stone hall. A massive humanoid statue stood at the center — the terrifying Gedo Statue.
Its face was grotesque, with hollow eyes and twisted horns. Chains stretched from its body to the ground, restraining its power.
"This is... the Gedo Statue?"
Kaede Kanshi recognized it at a glance. This was the container of the Ten-Tails — the shell left behind after the chakra was extracted.
Even someone like him, who didn't care much for tailed beasts, could sense the pure malevolence leaking from the statue.
Madara looked at the Gedo Statue with reverence. "With this, I will reshape the world."
Kaede Kanshi sneered. "You mean your Eye of the Moon Plan?"
"Oh? You even know that?"
"I'm not some frog living at the bottom of a well."
Kaede Kanshi sat on a nearby rock, still staring at the statue. "Your Eye of the Moon Plan... to project Infinite Tsukuyomi using the moon and trap the entire world in a dream. An artificial paradise. Seems more like escapism than salvation."
"You misunderstand," Madara replied calmly. "This world is full of conflict. Villages war with each other endlessly. People fight over meaningless ideals. I've seen too many brothers kill each other. As long as chakra exists, war will never end."
"So your solution is to enslave the entire world in a dream?" Kaede Kanshi laughed.
"To grant them peace," Madara corrected. "Eternal peace."
"You're just imposing your own sense of peace on others. That's no different from a tyrant."
White Zetsu patted Madara's shoulder. "See? Told you he wouldn't agree."
Madara didn't get angry. "I brought you here not to convert you. I just wanted to see whether you could become a variable within my plan — or an obstacle."
"Then let me save you the suspense."
Kaede Kanshi stood up, his voice cold. "I have no interest in your dream world. If anything, I prefer the chaos."
"I suspected as much," Madara said, smiling. "In that case, let's talk about something else."
He turned to White Zetsu. "Where is it?"
White Zetsu pointed to the back wall. "There. I've already cleared the passage."
Madara walked forward, and the wall opened to reveal a new chamber. Inside was an ancient stone tablet, covered in a script only the Rinnegan could read in full.
"This tablet contains the truth of the world."
Kaede Kanshi approached and glanced at it. "The so-called 'truth' you believe in... is it from this?"
"No," said a new voice.
A dark mass wriggled from the shadows and began to form a humanoid shape — Black Zetsu.
"I am the one who wrote the tablet."
Kaede Kanshi's gaze sharpened.
"So... you're Black Zetsu."
"Yes. I am the will of Kaguya Ōtsutsuki."
Kaede Kanshi remained silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed. "You're not a will. You're just a parasite."
"You're not wrong," Black Zetsu admitted. "But I am also the one who has manipulated history from the shadows for centuries. I guided Indra, twisted the Uchiha clan, and revived Madara. All for one goal — to bring back my mother, Kaguya."
"You admit it so easily?"
"I'm not hiding anything. After all... you might be a better candidate."
"Oh?"
Black Zetsu's tone became reverent. "Lord Kaede Kanshi, you are more terrifying than any other being I have met. Even my mother, Kaguya, might be impressed. If you abandon your ego and follow my will, I can help you become the true god of this world."
"I have no interest in becoming a god," Kaede Kanshi replied. "And I have even less interest in being your puppet."
"I see." Black Zetsu didn't seem disappointed. Instead, he smiled sinisterly. "Then perhaps I should change my allegiance. After all, you seem more promising than Madara."
"Hey!" White Zetsu shouted. "Traitor!"
"Silence," Black Zetsu snapped. "I am not loyal to Madara. I am loyal only to the will that leads to the resurrection of Kaguya. But now... I choose Kaede Kanshi."
He knelt on one knee.
"I am Black Zetsu — and from today onward, I shall uphold your will, Lord Kaede Kanshi."
(To Be Continued)